UPDATE: The Finding Our Voices program is making significant strides in preventing domestic abuse through its impactful statewide school tour, which is currently visiting 16 middle and high schools across six Maine counties and will continue through April 2026. This initiative is essential as it educates teens about healthy relationships, providing crucial insights into what constitutes love versus abuse.
Just announced, the winter/spring leg of the Love/not Love school tour travels from Sanford to Baileyville, receiving outstanding feedback from students. One participant expressed, “It touched on everything including abuse to males, and as a guy I appreciated that.” The urgency of this program has been highlighted by school officials, including a principal from Somerset County, who insisted, “I want you to stay here for two weeks!”
The program’s cornerstone is a hands-on project where students analyze pop culture couples to identify unhealthy relationship dynamics using an adaptation of the Power and Control Wheel. This engaging approach has allowed students to see the real-life implications of toxic relationships. The curriculum, which aligns with Maine standards, consists of three class periods designed to prepare students for the program’s visit.
Adding to the program’s relevance, volunteers aged 15 to 21 share their personal experiences with dating abuse, making the lessons relatable. A student remarked, “It was good hearing from someone closer to our age that we can relate to more.”
Finding Our Voices typically operates within health classes but has also conducted school-wide presentations, as seen on March 9 at Deer Isle-Stonington High School. The organization has embraced a two-day residency model at schools like Morse High School in Bath and Dexter Regional High School, amplifying its impact. One student from the project stated, “This was an amazing learning experience,” while others noted how easily one can become caught in a toxic relationship without realizing it.
Founder and CEO Patrisha McLean expressed gratitude for the positive reception, stating, “It was good hearing from the principal of the last school we visited that our program is very powerful, and even better to be told, ‘We look forward to inviting you back in the fall.’”
Sponsored by First National Bank, Finding Our Voices is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to breaking the silence surrounding domestic abuse in Maine. The organization provides vital resources for women survivors and their children, including funding for housing and access to free dental care and online support groups.
With the school visits set to continue in the fall, the urgency for this program remains palpable. As students engage with the curriculum, they are not only learning about healthy relationships but also how to recognize and address dating abuse, a critical skill for their future.
For more information about the Love/not Love school program, visit https://findingourvoices.net/youth-outreach. Additional details about Finding Our Voices can be found at https://findingourvoices.net.
This critical initiative underscores the pressing need for education on domestic abuse, ensuring that the next generation is informed and empowered to foster healthy relationships.